Improvement in perforating-stamps



e. F. ALMZY.

. PERFORATING STAMP.

Patented April 3 1877.

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INVIENTOIIRI W W ATTORN EYS WITNESSES fl g ILPETERI, YIASIIIIIWON. D- O.

EMT-ED F E Ti} GEORGE EA MY, or nnLrnos, nssrenoie OF onE-nnLF HIS RIGHT TO H, MgQlhARK, oF-moLEDQOHIo.

. w l -f.|Mr R ov 'ENT PERFo A I'Inefs-ramrs.

' Specificationforming part of Letters Patent No. 189,009, dated April 3,1877; application filed A February 19,1877.

To all whom it mag/concern!- 5 l 1 Be it known that I, GEORG F. ALMY, ofj

Delphos, in the county of Van Wertand State 'in'gs, which form part of thiss'pecificatiom My invention relates to improvements 'in canceling-stamps and consists, in the first place, in the peculiar construction of, theseverahpa-rt's'; an'd,"seco1'1dly,'in transmitting; motion to the cancelingdevice through the medium of-flexible shaft iiig, as will hereih' after be more fully set forth and claimed.

' In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a side- View of ahand-stamp embodying my inven-: tion." Fig. 2 is a face view,sho'win'g the shaft by which, through the medium of the flexible;

shafting connected therewith, the canceling device is operated. Fig. 3 shows an end view, representing the regulating device. "Fig. 4 is a detached side view of the scarifier-regulator.

My invention is principally designed to be used for the cancellation of postage-stamps, for which purpose it is especially adapted, though it may be used with marked advantage over the present devices in all cases where the latter are employed.

The device consists of a casing, A, of any suitable metal, in which is journaled the shaft B. One side a, of this case A is made removable, as shown. In Fig. 1 said side a has been removed, in order to show more perfectly the construction of adjacent parts. On shaft B one or more disks, 0, are secured, so as to revolve or oscillate with the shaft. The periphery of this disk or disks is roughened, so as to present a file or rasp surface, and is made sufficiently sharp as to act as a scarifier on the surface of the article to be canceled or destroyed. In the drawing these scarifiers O are represented with notches 0 cut in them. These depressions or notches serve to collect the particles of paper which are abraded, and which may be carried into the casing by the revolution of the scarifiers, and

thus prevent the clogging of said parts-f n; has also 56611 nd'in practice that the scarifl er operates better when its periphery' is roughened in sections-pnly than when its periphery presents "an unbroken roughened surface. These notchesc'can, however, be 'dispe'nsedfwith, if desired. Instead of a disk 'regulator'is represented as "constructedin three separate parts, all hinged at d. These partscould, however, be rigidly attached to each other at the'end d-in fact at both ends; but I prefer the construction represented in the drawing.

' In case the scarifier consists of but one disk or segment the regulator would comprise only two parts, extending on the two sides of the scarifier. The several parts of theregulator are'hinged at d on a bolt, which passes through the 'pr oject ion f of the casing, and are kept the required distance apart by collars g on said The opposite end of the regulator is provided with slots h, through which passes the round bolt m, the end of which is provided with a'screw-thread for the accommodationof a nut, so as to permit a ready removal of said bolt m, if desired. The several parts of the regulator are likewise separated at this end by similar collars g g. To bracketi of casing A is secured a plate, K, through which pass three small screws, Z, whose ends abut against the under side of the three parts of the regulator D. When the scarifier makes a deeper out than required, the screws are tightened or so turned as to push the regulator outward, which the slots h in the same permit, which brings the surface of the regulator in a plane nearer to that of the scarifier than before said operation, and thus lessens the' depth to which the scarifier can out.

When it is desired to obtain an opposite result, the screws are loosened or so turned as to allow the regulator to be pushed inward, by which the distance between the two planes in which the surfaces of the regulator and scarifier respectively lie is increased, and likewise the depth to which the scarifier can cut. Such a regulating device could be applied to both ends of the regulator, if desired, but it answers all the purposes if placed only as shown. a

In case the stamp-canceler is used for postoffice purposes, I combine with the same the post-marking stamp E, .the surface of which is rounded to correspond with the curvature of the canceling device. This may be attached thereto in any suitable manner.

To the end of shaft P is attached, in any suitable and effective manner, the flexible shafting G, by which power is transmitted from any suitable moter to the scarifier When the stamp is held in the right hand the end of the shaft to which the flexible shafting is attached will project to the right,

and said shafting will not interfere with the operation of stamping, nor with the free use of the left hand of the operator. The stampcanceler can be handled freely; can be controlled to assume any required position in fact, i

can be handled almost as freely as if entirely disconnected from any extra motive-power. The motion imparted to the scarifier may be rotary or oscillatory, but I prefer to use the former. The scarifier should revolve rapidly, as its operation is more effective and satisfactory than when a low rate of speed is maintained. When used, the stamp is grasped by the handle, placed on the article to be operated upon, and a slight back-and-forth or oscillating motion given to. the handle, by which the stamp is rocked, so as to bring a certain required length of the scarifier in contact. This motion may be imparted as quick 1y as the dexterity of the operator permits, the speed of the scarifier insuring the completeness of the cancellation. and should be, so adjusted as to scrape .ofl hardly more than the coloring or ink of the The device can surface of the article to'be canceled, which, in the case of a postage stamp, would be sufficient to prevent its successful use. For this reason it is especially adapted for the cancellation of postage-stamps, where it is essential that theenvelope should not be mutilated. Its practical operation is very satisfactory, for its revolutions are so rapid that the parts of the article to which the scarifiers are applied, are canceled almost instantly and completely, at least so for all practical purposes.

In place of flexible shafting, flexible belting may be employed as the equivalent thereof, or any other flexible connection between the shaft and the power.

In place of the disks described an emerywheel may be used, having a smooth periphery, and a very satisfactory result will be obtained. v y I What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1 i 1. vIn a hand canceling-stamp, the com'bi, nation of one or more independent disks 0, the stamp-frame arranged to be nearly flush with the periphery of the disk or disks, said disks roughened on their periphery, and provided with notches 0, with a revolving shaft, B, substantially as and for the purpose described;

2; The combination of disk or disks 0, shaft B, regulator D, and regulating-screws 1, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a hand canceling-stamp, the regulator D, provided with slots h, in combination with regulating screw or screws Z, substantially asdescribed. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE F. ALMY.

Witnesses: p

H. P. EYSENBAOH, .B. J. Bnotrnna'ron. 

